All eyes on Jaylin Fleming

April 03, 2010|By Rex W. Huppke, Tribune reporter

1. Is he the best 5th grade basketball player in the country? (March 30): Jaylin Fleming, a 10-year-old at Beasley Academic Center on the South Side, is already being watched by some pro and college basketball scouts. Refiloe Lethunya, a former Division I player and NBA scout said: "As far as his age, he's the best that I've seen." Whatever. First off, Jaylin, you've never gone head to head with me, so until that happens I'm going to assume I can school you because I'm bigger. Also, I can stay up as late as I want, though I'm usually asleep by 9 p.m. because I'm old and out of shape.

2. Prostitution is shadowy backdrop to Schaumburg hotel slaying (March 30): This grim look at the perils of prostitution in hotels around O'Hare International Airport unfolded like a true-crime novel, with a gunfight breaking out in a hotel room and leaving one man dead, another badly wounded and a woman charged with first-degree murder.

3. Bears, Seahawks could have mutual interest in trade (March 27): They could have, but they didn't. There was some thought the Bears might trade Alex Brown for Seahawks guard Rob Sims, but in the end the Bears just sent Brown packing. That prompted Brown to declare that he is still in his prime, which is what I do most nights after spending several hours watching TV and weeping.

4. Colvin could push Cubs into future (March 31): Rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin has looked phenomenal in spring training. The youthful Colvin has given fans a jolt of optimism as the Cubs close in on the regular season, increasing the likelihood that the rookie will a) suffer a bizarre season-ending injury (finger lacerated by Dorito?); b) be a bust; or c) spontaneously combust.

5. Why so many workers for one pothole? Safety (March 29): Ever wonder why it takes a group of six or so workers to fill in potholes? Me neither. Turns out it comes down to safety — something about the danger of standing in the road while cars speed past — and having enough people around to make "asphalt" jokes. Fortunately, with summer construction season starting, Chicago-area traffic will slow to glacierlike speeds. Any remaining potholes will be left unfilled and renamed "driver-friendly wake-up bumps."